Aerial war-ship.



c; EIC H.

AERIAL WARYSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26. 1917.

Patented Feb. 11,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. EICH.

.AERIAL WAR SHIP. APPLICATION FILED APR.26.1917.

1,294,334. Patented Feb.11,1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

C. EICH.

AERIAL WAR SHIP. APPLICATION FILED APR.26, I917.

1,294,334. I Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. UNITED STATES ATENT" oEEIoE.

cHARLEs Ercn, OF iroBoKEn, NEW JERSEY.

A ERIAL WAR-SHIP. I

Specification bf Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 11, 1919. V

v Application filed, April 26, 1917. Serial No. 164.762.

To all whom it may concern: I

- Be it known that I, CHARLES Ercrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of ,New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Var-Ships;

and I do-declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. v l

invention relates to that cl'assof airships intended for 'ofiensive and'defensive purposes, the principal object being to. provide an airship having a longitudinal ehan nel-shaped gangway between a pair of sup- I porting planesfor carrying guns and other means therefor. I

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction; and unique com armament.

In carrying out the porting planes are posit oned at substantially a dihedral angle, and another object of the invention is to minimize side sway or listing, by the provision of horizontal and vertical balancing planes secured rigidly t0 the rear end of thekeel or g'angway. 7 Yet another object is to provide a novel arrangement of rudders and operating binations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompany-- ing drawings which form a part of this specification and in which:.

.Figure 1's a perspective view of the improved airship;

I therefor;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical transversesection;

Fig: 4 is aperspective view of portions of the two rudders and the steering means Fig. 5 is a hinge by which said rudders are secured to the ship; and,

Figs. 6, 7, 8. and 9 arediagramniatic.

transverse sections on the planes of the of Fig. 2;

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 has reference to a longitudi= nally extending keel or gangway which is channel-shaped in transverse section and provided in its sides 2 'with p'orthole's 3 through which guns or the like 4 may exjstantially a dihedral angle;

above object, the sup detail vertical section of the;

post 22 gangway or in one of the gondolas 13, said post having a hand wheel'23 by means of tend for firing in practically any direction,

a front gun 5 being preferably mounted at the front end of the gangway at which point a Searchlight. 6 will also be located.

"A' pair of supporting planes 7 project outwardly frorn'and extend longitudinally along'the sides of the gaugway 1, above the portholeis 3, said planes being curved in transverse section.and being located at sub- 7 A suitable number ofmasts 8-rise from the gangway 1 and are preferably located fore and aft to serve as flag staffs and also as means for supporting the aerial 9 of a wireless apparatus, both masts being' braced by wires 10 which extend to the planes 7 and serve also to truss the latter. A substantially horizontal, balancing plane 11 is joined rigidlyat its front end to the rear end of the-keel or ,gangway 1, the upper side of said balancing'plane being equipped with a vertical plane or fin 12. These two planes serve to minimize lateral tilting orlisting of the ship when in use but the actionthereof is augmented to a great extent bythe gondolas,

' positioned in tubes 16.

For steering the craft, a horizontally.

disposed rudder 17 and a vertical rudder 18 are provided, the latter being carried and movable bodily with the former which at 19 is pivotally connected to the rear end of-the gangway 1 in such; a manner as to permit both vertical and horizontal swinging. Cables 20 lead from the horizontal rudder 17 to a cross arm 21 on a steering located at any suitable point in the which it maybe rotated and being hinged at 24k between said wheel and the arm 21.

R0ds 25 are connected to the post 22 between the hinge 24: and the wheel 23 and are pIOV1d8d..'f01 adjusting the rudders 17 and 18 vertically when the wheel is tilted forwardly or rearwardly as occasion may demand; Turning of wheel 23 will so move arm 21 and cables as to 'SWingthe rud-, ders horizontally.

'By constructing the improved shipas or substantially as shown and described, it will be highly eflicient for, either oflensive or de- 4 itensive purposes, the positioning of the armament in the gangway '1 serving to per-'- mit the ship to attack-others or defend-itself,

whether it is necessary to fire upwardly,

downwardly, sidewise or fore andaft. It will be observed that the construction of the gangwayprovides ample space for the arma-j ment and gunners as .Well as the-commands ing officers. The arrangement of balancing ed'out are probably planes and 'gondola's weight and thus serving to lower the center of gravity, as does also'the low positioning of the gangway land the armament therein, Since the several advantages above pointthis constitutes the preferred form ofthe.

ship. .,I- wish it understood, however, that within the scope of the invention as. claimed,

' numerous niinor'clianges may be made W'ltl1- out sacrificing the principal advantages. vAl

' appropriate construction, said planes .preferthrough the planes 7 could well be of any ably increase in" widthftoward their 'rear ends and more nearly approach a horizontal position toward said ends,

in Figs. 6, 7,8 and 9.

" I claim -1. An-aerial war ship' comprising a lonas shown clearly v gitudinally extending channel shaped gangwhich guns and the like may extend, sup- 4 way for carrying guns and other armament, said gangway being open at its top and the sides thereof having port holes through said keel and di preventslistingof the machine, saidgondolas carrying considerable.

best obtained by the; general arran ement shownand described,

porting planes extending longitudinally along the sides of said gangway above said port'holes and throughout the length of said gangway, and front and rear gondolas suspended from said gangway and carrying 'propellers and operating means therefor.

2. An airship comprising a longitudinal keel, a pair of longitudinally extending sup-- plane, and rudders beneath said-horizontal balancing plane.

3. An airship comprising a relatively: narrow'longitudinal keel, and a pair of"lo'ngi.-'

tudinally disposed upwardly diverging supporting planes extending outwardly from said keel, said planes being concave-convex in transverse'section with their concave sides disposed downwardly, the angle ofvrdiverg'ence between said planes increasing toward the rear ends thereof.

4. An air "ship comprising a relatively I narro'w. longitudinal keel, and a pair of longitudinally disposed upwardly diverging supporting planes extending outwardly from said keel and of iconc'avo-oonvex form in transverse section with thelr concave sides disposed downwardly, said planes 1ncreasing in width toward their rear ends and the angle of divergence between said planes also increasing toward said ends.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand inthepresen-ce of two subscribing witnesses.

cHAaLEs EICH.

Witnesses: I

FRANK. JENNE, FRANK KENNEY. 

